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Celestial Objects for Star Parties
Celestial Objects for Star Parties
January | February | March | April | September | October | November | December
These month-by-month lists were compiled by Alan Gould (PPA and Eastbay Astronomical Society) as ideal objects to view with "smart scopes" (e.g. eVscope, ES Astro 53 Pro, Seestar) at a public star party.
To see what constellations are in the sky and where, use a sky mobile app, paper sky maps (e.g. What’s Out Tonight, Skymaps.com, Beckstrom Observatory), a physical planisphere such as David Chandler's, or make your own planisphere with interchangeable star wheels.
It's best to read starmaps with a red flashlight to preserve your night vision. Make your phone into a red flashlight with an app such as Color Flashlight (Android) or iOS apps, NightVision Light, jLight, Flashlight.
[ly=light year; K=thousand; M=million; B=billion; mass in suns; yr=year; "=seconds of arc]
January
January
January | February | March | April | September | October | November | December
Open Clusters (distance in ly, # stars, age in Myears)
M29 Cygnus (5,240 ly, 50 stars, 11 ly dia, 10 Myrs old)
M34 Perseus (1500 ly, 400 stars, 200-250 Myrs old)
M39 Cygnus (1000 ly, a few dozen stars, 230 solar masses, 280 Myrs old)
M36 Auriga (4300 ly, ~200 stars, 25 Myrs old)
M37 Auriga (4500 ly, >500 stars, 350-550 Myrs old)
M38 Auriga (3480 ly, ~100 stars, 290 Myrs old)
M103 Cassiopeia (9400 ly, 15 ly across, ~172 stars, 12.6 Myrs old)
Globular Clusters (distance in ly, # of stars or mass in suns, diameter in ly)
M15 Pegasus (30 Kly, >100K stars, ~170 ly dia, central black hole?, x-ray source)
M79 Lepus (42 Kly, 106 ly dia, 11.7B yrs old)
Galaxies (distance in ly, diameter in ly, # stars)
M31 Andromedae, Great Galaxy in Andromeda (2.5 Mly, 300K ly dia, ~1 trillion stars, collision in ~5 billion yrs)
M32 Andromedae (2.5 Mly, 8,000 ly dia, companion of M31)
M110 Andromedae (2.6 Mly, 17,050 ly dia, companion of M31)
M33 Triangulum (3.2 Mly, 61,000 ly dia, ~40 billion stars)
M74 Pisces, The Phantom Galaxy (30 Mly, 85,300 ly dia, 100 billion stars)
M81 Ursa Major, Bode's Galaxy (12 Mly, 96,000 ly dia, black hole of mass 70M suns)
M82 UMa Cigar Galaxy (12 Mly, 41,000 ly dia, ~200 globular clusters, 30M suns black hole)
Planetary Nebulae (distance in ly, diameter in ly)
M76 Perseus, Little Dumbbell Nebula, the Barbell Nebula, the Cork Nebula (2500 ly, 1.23 ly dia, 2K to 10K yrs old)
Diffuse Nebulae (distance in ly, diameter in ly)
M1 Crab Nebula Taurus, (6500 ly, ~11 ly dia, 1054 AD Supernova, pulsar 18 mi dia)
M45 Taurus The Pleiades (open cluster). 7 Sisters (444 ly distant)
NGC 1435 the Merope NebulaM42 Great Nebula in Orion (6500 ly, ~26 ly dia)
M43 Orion (6500 ly, ~2.1 ly dia, part of M42)
M78 Orion (1350 ly, ~10 ly dia)
Horsehead Nebula in Orion (1370 ly, ~7 ly dia, dark nebula)
Double Stars (colors, separation {"}, period {yrs}, distance {ly})
g Andromedae (orange-blue, 9.8”, 4,748 yr, 390 ly)
h eta Cassiopeiae (yellow-orange, 12”, 480 yr, 19 ly)
February
February
January | February | March | April | September | October | November | December
Open Clusters (distance in ly, # stars, age in Myrs)
M34 Perseus (1500 ly, 400 stars, 200-250 Myrs old)
M35 Gemini (2979 ly, >1000 stars, 100 Myr old)
M36 Auriga (4300 ly, ~200 stars, 25 Myr old)
M37 Auriga∞ (4500 ly, >500 stars, 350-550 Myrs old)
M38 Auriga (3480 ly, ~100 stars, 290 Myrs old)
M103 Cassiopeia (9400 ly, 15 ly across, ~172 stars, 12.6 Myrs old)
Monoceros M46, 47, 48, 50
Globular Clusters (distance in ly, # of stars or mass in suns, diameter in ly)
M79 Lepus (42 Kly, 106 ly dia, 11.7B yrs old)
Galaxies (distance in ly, diameter in ly, # stars)
M31 Andromedae, Great Galaxy in Andromeda (2.5 Mly, 300K ly dia, ~1 trillion stars, collision in ~5 billion yrs)
M32 Andromedae (2.5 Mly, 8,000 ly dia, companion of M31)
M110 Andromedae (2.6 Mly, 17,050 ly dia, companion of M31)
M33 Triangulum (3.2 Mly, 61,000 ly dia, ~40 billion stars)
M74 Pisces, The Phantom Galaxy (30 Mly, 85,300 ly dia, 100 billion stars)
M81 Ursa Major, Bode's Galaxy (12 Mly, 96,000 ly dia, black hole 70M suns)
M82 UMa Cigar Galaxy (12 Mly, 41,000 ly dia, ~200 globular clusters, 30M suns black hole)
Planetary Nebulae (distance in ly, diameter in ly)
M76 Perseus, Little Dumbbell Nebula, the Barbell Nebula, the Cork Nebula (2500 ly, 1.23 ly dia, 2K to 10K yrs old)
Diffuse Nebulae (distance in ly, diameter in ly)
M1 Crab Nebula Taurus, (6500 ly, ~11 ly dia, 1054 AD Supernova, pulsar 18 mi dia)
M45 Taurus The Pleiades (open cluster). 7 Sisters (444 ly distant)
NGC 1435 the Merope NebulaM42 Great Nebula in Orion (6500 ly, ~26 ly dia)
M43 Orion (6500 ly, ~2.1 ly dia, part of M42)
M78 Orion (1350 ly, ~10 ly dia)
Horsehead Nebula in Orion (1370 ly, ~7 ly dia, dark nebula)
Double Stars (colors, separation in " {seconds of arc}, orbit period, distance)
g Andromedae (orange-blue, 9.8”, 4,748 yr, 390 ly)
h eta Cassiopeiae (yellow-orange, 12”, 480 yr, 19 ly)
March
March
January | February | March | April | September | October | November | December
Open Clusters (distance in ly, # stars, age in Myrs)
M34 Perseus (1500 ly, 400 stars, 200-250 Myrs old)
M35 Gemini∞ (2979 ly, >1000 stars, 100 Myr old)
M36 Auriga (4300 ly, ~200 stars, 25 Myr old)
M37 Auriga∞ (4500 ly, >500 stars, 350-550 Myrs old)
M38 Auriga (3480 ly, ~100 stars, 290 Myrs old)
M103 Cassiopeia (9400 ly, 15 ly across, ~172 stars, 12.6 Myrs old)
M67 Cancer (~2700 ly, 20 ly across, >500 stars, ~4B years old)
Monoceros M46, 47, 48, 50
Globular Clusters (distance in ly, # of stars or mass in suns, diameter in ly)
M79 Lepus (42 Kly, 106 ly dia, 11.7B yrs old)
Galaxies (distance in ly, diameter in ly, # stars)
M31 Andromedae, Great Galaxy in Andromeda (2.5 Mly, 300K ly dia, ~1 trillion stars, collision in ~5 billion yrs) - also companions: M32 (2.5 Mly, 8,000 ly dia) & M110 (2.6 Mly, 17,050 ly dia)
M33 Triangulum (3.2 Mly, 61,000 ly dia, ~40B stars)
M74 Pisces, The Phantom Galaxy (30 Mly, 85,300 ly dia, 100B stars)
M81 Ursa Major, Bode's Galaxy (12 Mly, 96,000 ly dia, supermassive black hole of mass 70M suns)
M82 UMa Cigar Galaxy (12 Mly, 41,000 ly dia, ~200 globular clusters, 30M suns black hole)
M101 Ursa Major (22 Mly, 252,000 ly dia, 1 trillion stars)
M108 Ursa Major, Surfboard Galaxy (14 Mly, 125B suns, ~300 globular clusters, 24M suns black hole, barred spiral)
M109 Ursa Major, Vacuum Cleaner Galaxy (67 Mly, barred spiral)
M51 Canes Venatici, Whirlpool Galaxy (23 Mly, 77,000 ly dia, 160B suns mass)
M106 Canes Venatici, (24 Mly, 152,000 ly dia, 40M suns black hole)
Planetary Nebulae (distance in light years, diameter in light years)
M76 Perseus, Little Dumbbell Nebula, the Barbell Nebula, the Cork Nebula (2500 ly, 1.23 ly dia, 2K to 10K yrs old)
M97 Ursa Major, Owl Nebula (2030 ly, 1.82 ly dia, ~8000 years old)
Emission/Diffuse Nebulae (distance in light years, diameter in light years)
M1 Crab Nebula Taurus, (6500 ly, ~11 ly dia, 1054 AD Supernova, pulsar 18 mi dia)
M45 Taurus The Pleiades (open cluster). 7 Sisters (444 ly distant)
NGC 1435 the Merope NebulaM42 Great Nebula in Orion (6500 ly, ~26 ly dia)
M43 Orion (6500 ly, ~2.1 ly dia, part of M42)
M78 Orion (1350 ly, ~10 ly dia)
Horsehead Nebula in Orion (1370 ly, ~7 ly dia, dark nebula)
Double Stars (colors, separation {"}, period {yrs}, distance {ly})
g Andromedae (orange-blue, 9.8”, 4,748 yr, 390 ly)
h eta Cassiopeiae (yellow-orange, 12”, 480 yr, 19 ly)
April
April
January | February | March | April | September | October | November | December
Open Clusters (distance in ly, # stars, age in Myrs)
M34 Perseus (1500 ly, 400 stars, 200-250 Myrs old)
M35 Gemini∞ (2979 ly, >1000 stars, 100 Myr old)
M36 Auriga (4300 ly, ~200 stars, 25 Myr old)
M37 Auriga∞ (4500 ly, >500 stars, 350-550 Myrs old)
M38 Auriga (3480 ly, ~100 stars, 290 Myrs old)
M67 Cancer (~2700 ly, 20 ly across, >500 stars, ~4B years old)
Monoceros M46, 47, 48, 50.
Globular Clusters (distance in ly, # of stars or mass in suns, diameter in ly)
M3 Canes Venatici (34 Kly, 336 ly dia, 500,000 stars, 11.4B yrs old)
M53 Coma Berenices (58 Kly, 220 ly dia, 12.7B yrs old, 826K suns mass)
Galaxies (distance in ly, diameter in ly, # stars)
M81 Ursa Major, Bode's Galaxy (12 Mly, 96K ly dia, supermassive black hole of mass 70 million suns)
M82 UMa Cigar Galaxy (12 Mly, 41K ly dia, ~200 globular clusters, 30M suns black hole)
M101 Ursa Major Pinwheel Galaxy (22 Mly, 252K ly dia, 1 trillion stars)
M108 Ursa Major, Surfboard Galaxy (14 Mly, 125B suns, ~300 globular clusters, 24 million suns black hole, barred spiral)
M109 Ursa Major, Vacuum Cleaner Galaxy (67 Mly, barred spiral)
M51 Canes Venatici, Whirlpool Galaxy (23 Mly, 77K ly dia, 160 billion suns mass)
M63 Canes Venatici, Sunflower Galaxy (29 Mly, 110K ly dia, 400 billion stars)
M106 Canes Venatici, (24 Mly, 152,000 ly dia, 40M suns black hole)
M104 Virgo, Sombrero Galaxy (31 Mly, 100,000 ly dia, black hole 1B suns)
Virgo cluster: M49, 58, 59, 60, 61, 84, 85, 86, 87, 88, 90, 98, 99, 100
Planetary Nebulae (distance in ly, diameter in ly)
M97 Ursa Major, Owl Nebula (2030 ly, 1.82 ly dia, ~8000 years old)
Diffuse Nebulae (distance in ly, diameter in ly)
M1 Crab Nebula Taurus, (6500 ly, ~11 ly dia, 1054 AD Supernova, pulsar 18 mi dia)
M45 Taurus The Pleiades (open cluster). 7 Sisters (444 ly distant) - NGC 1435 the Merope Nebula
M42 Great Nebula in Orion (6500 ly, ~26 ly dia)
M43 Orion (6500 ly, ~2.1 ly dia, part of M42)
M78 Orion (1350 ly, ~10 ly dia)
Horsehead Nebula in Orion (1370 ly, ~7 ly dia, dark nebula)
Double Stars (colors, separation {"}, period {yrs}, distance {ly})
Mizar Ursa Major, quadrupal star; close to binary star Alcor (83 ly) - sextuple group
Albiega (Gamma Leonis, 2 red giants, 4”, 550 yr, 130 ly)
Izar (Epsilon Bootis, orange & blue, >1000 yr, 3", 236 ly)
Porrima (Gamma Virginis, 2", 169 yr, 38 ly)
Castor is 6-star system (49 ly away); Pollux, brightest star known to have a planet, Thestias
Open Clusters (distance in ly, # stars, age in Myrs)
M29 Cygnus (5,240 ly, 50 stars, 11 ly dia, 10 Myrs old)
Globular Clusters (distance in ly, # of stars or mass in suns, diameter in ly)
M10 Ophiuchus (14 Kly, 220K suns, 84 ly dia)
M12 Ophiuchus (16.4 Kly, 87K suns, 74 ly dia)
M13 Hercules (24,000 ly, ~400K stars, ~168 ly dia, ~12B years old)
M92 Hercules (36,700 ly, 330K suns, 108 ly dia)
M56 Lyrae (32,900 ly, 230K suns, 84 ly dia)
NGC 5466 Boötes (52,000 ly, 179K suns, 476 ly dia)
Galaxies (distance in ly, diameter in ly, # stars)
M81 Ursa Major, Bode's Galaxy (12 Mly, 96K ly dia, black hole 70M suns)
M82 UMa Cigar Galaxy (12 Mly, 41,000 ly dia, ~200 globular clusters, 30M suns black hole)
NGC 2841 Ursa Major (peculiar dwarf galaxy, near M81)
M 51 Ursa Major, Whirlpool Galaxy (23 Mly, 77K ly dia, 160 billion suns)
M 101 Ursa Major, Pinwheel Galaxy (21 Mly, 252K ly dia, 100 billion suns)
NGC 3184 Ursa Major, The Little Pinwheel Galaxy (40 Mly, ~100K ly dia)
NGC 3198 Ursa Major (47 Mly, ~122K ly dia, barred spiral?)
NGC 2841 Ursa Major (46 Mly, ~150K ly dia, 70 billion suns)
NGC 6946 Cygnus, Fireworks Galaxy (25 Mly, 87,300 ly dia, active starburst galaxy)
NGC 5248 Boötes (69 Mly, 85K ly dia)
NGC 5529 Boötes (144 Mly, 252K ly dia, edge-wise spiral)
NGC 3147 Draco (130 Mly, 177K ly dia, spiral galaxy with black hole of 250 M suns mass)
NGC 5907 Draco, Knife-edge or Splnter Galaxy (46 Mly, 173K ly dia, edge-wise spiral)
NGC 3735 Draco (edge-wise spiral)
NGC 5965 Draco (150 Mly, 260K ly dia, edge-wise spiral)
Planetary Nebulae (distance in ly, diameter in ly)
NGC 6543 Draco, Cat's Eye Nebula (3,300 ly, 0.4 ly dia)
M97 or NGC 3587 Ursa Major, Owl Nebula (~2,000 ly, 1.8 ly dia, 8,000 yrs old)
Diffuse Nebulae (distance in ly, diameter in ly)
NGC 6781 Aquila, the Snowglobe Nebula (1500 ly, .44 ly dia, barrel-shaped, viewed from nearly pole-on)
Caldwell 9 Cepheus, The Cave Nebula (2,400 ly, 70 ly dia)
Double Stars (colors, separation {"}, period {yrs}, distance {ly})
β Cygni, Alberio (blue & gold, 35.3”, 122 yr, 365 ly)
Open Clusters (distance in ly, # stars, age in Myrs)
M29 Cygnus (5,240 ly, 50 stars, 11 ly dia, 10 Myrs old)
Globular Clusters (distance in ly, # of stars or mass in suns, diameter in ly)
M13 Hercules (24,000 ly, ~400K stars, ~168 ly dia, ~12B years old)
M92 Hercules (37K ly, 330K suns, 108 ly dia)
M56 Lyrae (33K ly, 230K suns, 84 ly dia)
M2 Aquarius (55K ly, ~150K stars, ~175 ly dia, 13B years old)
NGC 6760 Aquila (24K ly, 357K suns)
M71 Sagitta, M15 Pegasus, M72 Capricorn ??
Galaxies (distance in ly, diameter in ly, # stars)
M31 Andromedae, Great Galaxy in Andromeda (2.5 Mly, 300K ly dia, ~1 trillion stars, collision in ~5 billion yrs)
M32 Andromedae (2.5 Mly, 8,000 ly dia, companion of M31)
M33 Triangulum (3.2 Mly, 61Kly dia, ~40 billion stars)
NGC 253 Sculptor Galaxy (11.4 Mly, 90K ly dia, 5M suns black hole)
NGC 6814 Aquila (75 Mly, 85K ly dia, has supermassive black hole with mass ~18 million Suns)
NGC 3147 Draco (130 Mly, 177K ly dia, spiral galaxy with black hole of 250 M suns)
NGC 5907 Draco, Knife-edge or Splnter Galaxy (46 Mly, 173K ly dia, edge-wise spiral)
NGC 3735 Draco (edge-wise spiral)
NGC 5965 Draco (150 Mly, 260K ly dia, edge-wise spiral)
Planetary Nebulae (distance in ly, diameter in ly)
NGC 6781 Aquila, the Snowglobe Nebula (1500 ly, .44 ly dia, barrel-shaped, viewed from nearly pole-on)
M97 or NGC 3587 Ursa Major, Owl Nebula (~2,000 ly, 1.8 ly dia, 8,000 years old)
Diffuse Nebulae (distance in ly, diameter in ly)
Caldwell 9 Cepheus, The Cave Nebula (2,400 ly, 70 ly dia)
Double Stars (colors, separation {"}, period {yrs}, distance {ly})
β Cygni, Alberio (blue & gold, 35.3”, 122 yr, 365 ly)
Open Clusters (distance in ly, # stars, age in Myrs)
M29 Cygnus (5,240 ly, 50 stars, 11 ly dia, 10 Myrs old)
M34 Perseus (1500 ly, 400 stars, 200-250 Myrs old)
M39 Cygnus (1000 ly, a few dozen stars, 230 suns, 280 Myrs old)
M36 Auriga (4300 ly, ~200 stars, 25 Myr old)
M37 Auriga (4500 ly, >500 stars, 350-550 Myrs old)
M38 Auriga (3480 ly, ~100 stars, 290 Myrs old)
NGC 869 & 884 Double Cluster in Perseus (7600 ly, 14 Myrs old)
Globular Clusters (distance in ly, # of stars or mass in suns, diameter in ly)
M13 Hercules (24,000 ly, ~400K stars, ~168 ly dia, ~12B years old)
M92 Hercules (36,700 ly, 330K suns, 108 ly dia)
M2 Aquarius (55,000 ly, ~150K stars, ~175 ly dia, 13B years old)
NGC 6760 Aquila (24K ly, 357K suns)
M71 Sagitta
M15 Pegasus (30 Kly, >100K stars, ~170 ly dia, central black hole?, x-ray source)
NGC 6760 Aquila (24,000 ly, 357K suns)
M2 Aquarius (55,000 ly, ~150K stars, ~175 ly dia, 13B years old)
M72 Capricorn ??
Galaxies (distance in ly, diameter in ly, # stars)
M31 Andromedae, Great Galaxy in Andromeda (2.5 Mly, 300K ly dia, ~1 trillion stars, collision in ~5 billion yrs)
M32 Andromedae (2.5 Mly, 8,000 ly dia, companion of M31)
M33 Triangulum (3.2 Mly, 61K ly dia, ~40B stars)
Planetary Nebulae (distance in ly, diameter in ly)
M57 Ring Nebula (4100 ly ~2.6 ly dia)
NGC 7293 Helix Nebula in Aquarius (650 ly, ~6 ly dia)
M27 Dumbbell Nebula in Vulpecula (1360 ly, ~3 ly dia)
Diffuse Nebulae (distance in ly, diameter in ly)
M1 Crab Nebula Taurus, (6500 ly, ~11 ly dia, 1054 AD SN, pulsar 18 mi dia) Supernova remnant
M42 Orion (1300 ly, ~24 ly dia)
Double Stars (colors, separation {"}, period {yrs}, distance {ly})
Open Clusters (distance in ly, # stars, age in Myrs)
M29 Cygnus (5,240 ly, 50 stars, 11 ly dia, 10 Myrs old)
M34 Perseus (1500 ly, 400 stars, 200-250 Myrs old)
M39 Cygnus (1000 ly, a few dozen stars, 230 suns, 280 Myrs old)
M36 Auriga (4300 ly, ~200 stars, 25 Myr old)
M37 Auriga (4500 ly, >500 stars, 350-550 Myrs old)
M38 Auriga (3480 ly, ~100 stars, 290 Myrs old)
M103 Cassiopeia ((9400 ly, 15 ly across, ~172 stars, 12.6 Myrs old)
Globular Clusters (distance in ly, # of stars or mass in suns, diameter in ly)
M15 Pegasus (30 Kly, >100K stars, ~170 ly dia, central black hole?, x-ray source)
Galaxies (distance in ly, diameter in ly, # stars)
M31 Andromedae, Great Galaxy in Andromeda (2.5 Mly, 300K ly dia, ~1 trillion stars, collision in ~5 billion yrs)
M32 Andromedae (2.5 Mly, 8K ly dia, companion of M31)
M110 Andromedae (2.6 Mly, 17K ly dia, companion of M31)
M33 Triangulum (3.2 Mly, 61K ly dia, ~40B stars)
M74 Pisces, The Phantom Galaxy (30 Mly, 85K ly dia, 100B stars)
Planetary Nebulae (distance in ly, diameter in ly)
M76 Perseus, Little Dumbbell Nebula, the Barbell Nebula, the Cork Nebula (2500 ly, 1.23 ly dia, 2,000 to 10,000 years old)
Diffuse Nebulae (distance in ly, diameter in ly)
M45 Taurus The Pleiades (open cluster). 7 Sisters (444 ly distant)
NGC 1435 the Merope NebulaM1 Crab Nebula Taurus, (6500 ly, ~11 ly dia, 1054 AD Supernova, pulsar 18 mi dia)
Double Stars (colors, separation {"}, period {yrs}, distance {ly})
g Andromedae (orange-blue, 9.8”, 4,748 yr, 390 ly)
h eta Cassiopeiae (yellow-orange, 12”, 480 yr, 19 ly)
β Cygni, Alberio (blue & gold, 35.3”, 122 yr, 365 ly)
e Lyrae (double double, 208”, 2.6”, 1800 yrs, 2.3”, 720 years)
[template]
Open Clusters (distance in ly, # stars, age in Myrs)
M CC (00 ly, 00 stars, 00 Myrs old)
Globular Clusters (distance in ly, # of stars or mass in suns, diameter in ly)
M CC (00 Kly, 00 stars, 00 ly dia)
Galaxies (distance in ly, diameter in ly, # stars)
M CC (00 Mly, 00 ly dia, 00 billion stars)
Planetary Nebulae (distance in ly, diameter in ly)
M CC (00 ly, 00 ly dia)
Diffuse Nebulae (distance in ly, diameter in ly)
M1 CC (00 ly, 00 ly dia)
Double Stars (colors, separation {"}, period {yrs}, distance {ly})
a CC (color, 00”, 00 yr, 00 ly)
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